Happy Six Year Anniversary to Us

Six years?? Have I seriously been dating Ryan that long?? Haha. It seems like only yesterday...and then again, it feels like longer than that. So much has happened since I met Ryan at the naive, immature age of 20.

We celebrated with a fabulous dinner at Red Prime Steak (WOW, I totally blew my diet but it was sooooo worth it!)



And to commemorate....here are ten reasons why I am madly in love with my soon-to-be-husband.

1. The man cannot tell a lie.
2. He's got the most gorgeous blue eyes, ever.
3. He is so driven and motivated to succeed in medicine.
4. We have so many silly, inside jokes that make me laugh until I cry.
5. He loves my cat, maybe even more than I do....which is a LOT!
6. He is so genuine and cares so much about others (which is why he will make a great doctor!)
7. He makes me feel beautiful, even when my hair isn't washed and I'm wearing my old pink bathrobe.
8. He takes out the trash, mows the grass and kills spiders!!!!
9. His kisses make me melt.
10. He gives killer backrubs.

Happy Anniversary honey!

More House Hunting

Last Saturday was our 6 year anniversary, and we spent part of it searching for a house. My friend and ex-boyfriend Tim lives in a new addition in North OKC, so I texted him to find out who the builder was. He sent me the guy's name and number and we headed up there to check things out.

We pulled up to the model house and it was so beautiful. We walked in and I almost passed out. It was my dream house!!! It was absolutely perfect! And the decorations set it off even more....I wished so badly that we could just buy it- everything- on the spot. It had an open kitchen overlooking the living room, a bench eating area next to the kitchen, formal dining room near the front door, a media room with huge screen and awesome surround sound...blah, blah, blah.

Here are some pics!











What can I say? Champagne tastes, beer budget. We went to check out some of the smaller homes they had available that were in our price range- and all of them were pretty great. This builder (Jeff Click Homes) has created some of the most modern, cool houses I've ever seen. We definitely will be thinking a lot about the ones we saw....April 30th is quickly approaching! The location is great too....kinda on the outskirts of the populated areas, but really close to a major shopping area of the city and I-35 so we can jump on and zip down the interstate.

Match Day

The most stressful week of my life was last week, before we found out where we were going for Ryan's residency. I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep, and there was a giant knot in my stomach constantly.

Thursday morning, I met up with Ryan at Gaillardia Country Club where the Match Day luncheon was being held. We got there at 10:30 and the buffet opened. We sat around talking and looking in our gift bags...everyone checking their cell phone to see what time it was every 10 minutes. Some of the students and deans made speeches and then it was time.

The class below Ryan's brought in cases of wine to each table. The wine bottles were wrapped in paper with names tied to them. When they set Ryan's bottle down in front of us, I was so overwhelmed with stress that I started to cry. I was so afraid it was going to be El Paso!!!

Everyone was told to open them, and I couldn't even look. He tore off the paper, and then turned the bottle over so we could read the label on the back. I couldn't even see or focus....and then I saw the words "OU." And under them, "Integris Baptist." I have never been so relieved in my life!!!

So Ryan will spend his prelim year in internal medicine with OU, then move to Baptist for his radiology residency. He starts making a little bit of money when he starts in July and can finally start paying off his loans. I think we're $500,000 in the hole right now. Starts freaking me out when I think about it too much....nothing I can really do about it though!

And now, the house hunt is on for real! We have about a month to figure things out so we can make the tax credit deadline :)

YAY OKC! I LOVE YOU!

Pauline Comes to America

My little french intern, Pauline, touched down in America on Thursday night while we were at the Match Day party. Liz picked her up from the airport where they realized the airline had lost her baggage. So after a trip to Target, Liz finally dropped her off at my house.

When Ryan and I got home around midnight, she was half-asleep but came out of the guest room to meet us. She is so tiny and cute! We immediately loved her. A few minutes later, the doorbell rang and it was her luggage :)

The next day, I called in sick and Pauline and I ran around the city setting up her bank account, buying her a pay-as-you-go cell phone, finding an adapter for her Euro electronics....it was an exhausting day, but I don't know how she would have done everything without me and I was happy to do it. Her first comment was that my house looked like something "out of a movie, or like on Gossip Girl." LOL!! Then, she was amazed by the size of our vehicles (Smart Cars are standard in France). I took her to Louie's to meet up with Liz for lunch, and when she got her order, she said that the "food was very big too!"

We've had a good time with her so far. Today was her first day at the firm and it was a bit difficult to find stuff for her to do. She can't really write anything, or make calls because her accent is so heavy. I told her to read the paper and it took her all morning. She would jot down words she didn't recognize, and then pull our her pocket translator.

She's staying at the house until she can find an apartment and an American roommate. So far, the Craigslist ad we posted has not been successful. It has resulted in an inquery from a homeless woman and a 42-year-old man who wanted to be downtown so he could walk to the NBA games. Hmmmm.....

And Then There Were Two

Last night we got some really bad news. Ryan's best man Kenny, who lives in Thailand, just got a new job and can't get the time off to come to the wedding. He had already booked his flight and had to pay a bunch of extra fees to change it for a return trip home sometime.

Ryan is crushed. His other best man Mike might not get to come either because of a new job, and two of his friends said no because of money and the other one was traveling somewhere overseas.

It might come down to just Parker and Josh as groomsmen. I'm just so sad for him, because you can tell all of the wind has been knocked out of his sails. First his family and now this. I don't know what to do to make it better, this is really hard.

Less Than 3 Months Out!

Last week, I hit the 100 days out on the countdown to the wedding. Exciting!!! Also kind of scary, considering I don't think my dress fits yet and I feel like I have a million tiny details to pull together.

Yesterday I ordered customizable cake toppers from an Etsy seller- I give her pictures and details on what we're wearing and what we look like, and she will make them look just like us!



I also ordered a ring bowl from another Etsy seller that I am having customized with the Hawaiian phrase, Nau ko`u aloha. It means "My love is yours." It will also have our wedding date on it. We will use this in the ceremony to tie the rings to, so they don't get lost. At least, I think that's why I bought it. Or maybe just because it's trendy and cute and will be cool in some pictures and as a keepsake.



On the workout front, I did a ton of damage over the weekend while I stayed with Rhiannon. So Monday, I had my trainer measure my body fat percentage and weight. Let's just say it was enough to scare me because I'm so far from my goal. All week I have been super good and worked out hard every day. Ashlie and I were dying in boot camp last night, and we kept looking at each other each time the trainer told us to start a hard drill, and muttering "Beach, beach, beach."

Wedding Invitations

They're finished!! My wedding invitations are finished, and they look absolutely gorgeous!!!

I spent Sunday afternoon/evening with the talented Rhiannon Leach of Notably Noted, perfecting and printing everything. I can't believe she was able to re-create the super expensive invitations that I loved from Prim & Pixie. Mine look even better, in my opinion. The girls on The Knot Hawaii board loved them too!

I spent last night assembling the pieces and gluing (total PITA because of the weird texture of the paper, I hope they stay together!)

I'm waiting for some special "basho" paper to come in from California so I can create the finishing touch- the Hawaiian-looking belly bands to wrap around the outside of the invitation.

I can't WAIT for everyone to get them! I won't post them on here yet, but here is an action shot from behind-the-scenes :)

Remember When Birthdays Used to be Fun?

Rhiannon planned a surprise birthday party for her sister-in-law, Lindsey. The theme was McDonalds, because Lindsey told Rhiannon that she wished birthdays could be like when you were little, and you used to have birthday parties at McDonalds with your friends. Lindsey's sister made a fondant cake (her first!) in the shape of a Happy Meal, with fries and ketchup. It was all edible, but I was a little nervous to try it. Everyone said it was good.

Here are some pics of the cute decorations!

Whirlwind Weekend

Wow, where did my weekend go?? I headed to Muskogee to meet up with Rhiannon and Amelia on Saturday, before we all drove down to Tahlequah for Julie Cochrane's baby shower.

It was a blast hanging out with old friends and I had to update with fun pictures..I thought Julie looked great, and she is going to be such a great mom. My jaw dropped when I walked through the door where the shower was being held and saw all of the presents piled up to the ceiling. This kid isn't going to want for anything, he's already soooo spoiled! She named him Keaton, which I think is super cute. Keaton Cochrane!

Julie and Amelia



The girls



The yummy cake with a "pregnant" bear cake topper!




Julie opening my gift- octopus and giraffe towel sets and a safety rubber ducky.



Friends!



These pictures are hilarios. We told Tracie and Jules to hug their bellies, but they just started cracking up.




And a few more....




Mrs. Walker!!!



Julie's mom with Jen's new baby, James.



Next weekend I'll be back in Tquah for Stefanie's baby shower....and the weekend after that I'll be in Yukon for Jamie's baby shower. It's BABY SEASON!!!!